Four mathematicians are gathered and meet with a top official of the United States Department of Defense. After some discussion, the group agrees that they must be wary with whom to trust and control their solution. The official offers them a reward of $10 million in exchange for their portion of the algorithm, swaying them by attempting to address their concerns. Only one of the four speaks out against the sale, and in doing so is forced to reveal a dark truth about his portion of the solution. Before they sign a license to the government, however, they wrestle with the ethical consequences of their discovery. -- Wikipedia

Comments

"In 1956, renowed mathematician Kurt Godel wrote a letter to John von Neumann postulating the existence of a single proof that could unlock the fundamental laws that bind our universe.

Fantastical at the time, technological innovations and conceptual advancements over the last half-century have brought us closer to discovering the proof's frightening potential.

Today it is considered the most important unsolved problem in computer science.

It is simply known as P vs NP."

The opening titles of Travelling Salesman serve almost as an elimination process. If any of that makes you think "Huh? Who? What?" this film may not be for you. That is not meant as condescension, it is just that this film gives no quarter. You either understand what it is talking about or you don't. Names and events are casually dropped with history serving as exposition. The low rating is indicative of that. Again, that is not meant as condescending and I don't believe the film to be either. Twenty minutes in and I had a great respect for writer/director Timothy Lanzone for having a vision and never swaying from it.

Travelling Salesman is an ultra low budget feature with an intelligent and dense script, excellent cinematography and editing, and solid natural performances.

Taking place almost entirely in a single room the film chronicles the conclusive meeting of 4 mathematicians, truly the smartest men in any room they are in, as they turn over the findings of their 4 year top secret project to their Department of Defence handler. Their discussions centre around an 11th hour addendum to their findings, a betrayal of their agreement, that document morally questionable applications of their earth shattering work. Struggling with the ramifications they try and talk themselves into acceptance and sign off on each of their $10 million dollar pay checks.

Travelling Salesman left me thinking long after the credits rolled, in fact I watched it again the next day to let it rattle around some more. Shot in just 10 days on a reported budget of $10,000 I found this film to be a remarkable achievement.

"In 1956, renowed mathematician Kurt Godel wrote a letter to John von Neumann postulating the existence of a single proof that could unlock the fundamental laws that bind our universe.

Fantastical at the time, technological innovations and conceptual advancements over the last half-century have brought us closer to discovering the proof's frightening potential.

Today it is considered the most important unsolved problem in computer science.

It is simply known as P vs NP."

The opening titles of Travelling Salesman serve almost as an elimination process. If any of that makes you think "Huh? Who? What?" this film may not be for you. That is not meant as condescension, it is just that this film gives no quarter. You either understand what it is talking about or you don't. Names and events are casually dropped with history serving as exposition. The low rating is indicative of that. Again, that is not meant as condescending and I don't believe the film to be either. Twenty minutes in and I had a great respect for writer/director Timothy Lanzone for having a vision and never swaying from it.

Travelling Salesman is an ultra low budget feature with an intelligent and dense script, excellent cinematography and editing, and solid natural performances.

Taking place almost entirely in a single room the film chronicles the conclusive meeting of 4 mathematicians, truly the smartest men in any room they are in, as they turn over the findings of their 4 year top secret project to their Department of Defence handler. Their discussions centre around an 11th hour addendum to their findings, a betrayal of their agreement, that document morally questionable applications of their earth shattering work. Struggling with the ramifications they try and talk themselves into acceptance and sign off on each of their $10 million dollar pay checks.

Travelling Salesman left me thinking long after the credits rolled, in fact I watched it again the next day to let it rattle around some more. Shot in just 10 days on a reported budget of $10,000 I found this film to be a remarkable achievement.